The Voice of the Chief Sustainability Officer

Article

November 01, 2022

3 min

Sustainable Leadership Sustainability Board and CEO Advisory Sustainability Officers

Executive summary

CSOs tend to make a bigger impact when they report to the CEO, approach sustainability through value creation, and set clear targets.

Sarah Galloway

London

Kurt Harrison

New York

Uncovering the Enablers of Successful Chief Sustainability Officers

As more organizations turn to C-level executives to drive sustainability results, we surveyed global sustainability leaders to understand the enablers of successful chief sustainability officers.

An effective chief sustainability officer (CSO) can have a substantial impact on organizational success by delivering on the evolving demands of investors, employees, and customers. But with the role being newer than other C-suite positions, setting CSOs up for success can be tough.

That’s why we surveyed 56 CSOs and heads of ESG from around the world to discover how organizations can get the most from this critical role. This sustainable leader survey uncovered three enablers of successful CSOs:

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They report to a CEO who has publicly committed to sustainability

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They create sustainability strategies that focus on value creation

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They have prioritized targets and the freedom to achieve them

Successful CSOs report to the CEO

CSOs who report directly to the CEO enjoyed three outcome-related benefits. They were:

50%

more likely to say their organization is on track to meet sustainability targets

30%

more likely to say they have access to the information needed to make good decisions

50%

more likely to be on the executive leadership team and present at board meetings.

Successful CSOs create value

Most CSOs told us value creation is the main driver of sustainability in their organization. Less than half said they’re focusing on traditional sustainability drivers such as brand management, impact reduction, or risk avoidance.

Primary drivers of sustainability strategy

54%

Value creation

20%

Brand management

16%

Impact reduction

8%

Risk avoidance

2%

Unsure

Successful CSOs have the support to reach their targets

Competing priorities, organizational complexity, and a lack of skilled teams all hamper CSOs. But the most successful CSOs feel their CEO supports them in setting and measuring actionable targets, streamlining bureaucratic hurdles, and ensuring key talent is in place.

73%

said their CEO is personally committed
to sustainability goals

55%

said their CEO’s compensation is tied
to sustainability outcomes

How to set up your CSO for success

To bring these enablers of CSO success into your organization, there are six leadership actions you should take:

	Align the board and CEO to sustainability goals		Position the CSO as close to the center of core decision-making as possible
	Anchor your sustainability strategy to value creation		Ensure the CSO has adequate access to the right people, resources, and information
	Measure sustainability progress and communicate it internally and externally		Empower next-generation leaders to become strong champions of sustainability